Have you ever heard of a story box? They’re as cute, fun, and helpful as they sound! They’re easy to put together, and they’re incredibly enriching tools you can add to your Buddy toolbox this week!
What is it?
Simply put, a story box is a collection of tangible items a child may explore to help them better learn and understand a book, video, or other teaching. The manipulatives are directly tied to the story or lesson the child is learning. They’re often stored in a small bin, bag, or (you guessed it!) box. They don’t need to be elaborate or expensive items. But more on that later!
Who’s it for?
A story box is incredibly helpful for a child who is blind or visually impaired. All children make sense of the world around them through play and by using all their senses. A child who is blind, visually impaired, or deafblind is working extra hard at fine tuning and learning with their tactile senses.
Kids who have difficulties with their attention span or focus may also benefit from using a story box. The items to hold help keep the child’s hands busy, thus helping to stimulate their brain enough to focus more easily on the story they’re learning—all while directly anchoring them to the story! Think of them as on-theme fidget toys.
How do I make a story box?
Often, everyday toys or household items are perfect for the job. For example, if you were reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, you might include a toy apple, orange, banana, grapes, etc. for the child to hold as the caterpillar eats its way through the book.
Don’t use too many items, though. You want the child to be able to fully explore the item while they listen, not just touch it and move on. For the weekly videos in LifeKids, about 3-5 items should be plenty.
So, what could work for an Early Childhood (Under the Sea, In the Jungle, or The Ark) video lesson?
Take a look at this classic unit: The Donkey and the King. What would you put in the story box?
It would be ideal to have one main item that’s always included in your story box for familiarity, no matter which lesson you’re learning. You could choose one or two items from the Picture Passes if they lend themselves well to be a tangible item. And you could choose one or two items from the Bible story as found both in the video and on the weekly story cards.
- A star-shaped toy to represent our friend, Shine! Could be plush, squeezable foam, etc. This would make an ideal weekly main item.
- This unit has “Waving Hands,” “Singing Mouth,” and, “Walking Feet” for its Picture Passes. Would any of these make a good story box item? They might. You could include a toy mouth or a shoe. But—and this actually might be the better option for this particular unit—you could also skip these for your story box items. It might be easier and even better in this instance to help the child wave their own hands, touch their own mouth and sing, and stomp their own feet instead.
- This unit’s Bible story has some wonderful themes that could be used as items for your story box! It’s the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. You might include a toy donkey, an artificial palm leaf, a small rock to represent the rocks that would cry out to praise Jesus if the people were made to keep silent!
There are no wrong answers when it comes to creating a story box! Enjoy the flexibility and choose items that you think will help anchor a child to what they’re hearing and learning.
How do I use a story box with my little buddy?
Use the items in the box to generate excitement! Try these tips to help you as you feel your way through using story box (or bag!) items with the children you support!
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- During the theme song or in the opening scene at Emily’s or Marty’s house is a great time to offer your main item for your child to hold.
- Use words to introduce each item. Say, “Here’s a star like our friend, Shine!”
- Watch and help as needed. If the item is dropped, help the child reach it again.
- Go slowly. Allow as much time as possible with each item.
- Transition gently. If you want to introduce a new item, it’s best to remove the item a child is currently holding. Say, “I have something else for you! Want to hold it? Let’s trade!” Keep it lighthearted, exciting, and interesting. “Wow! Hold this donkey! It’s like the donkey Jesus rode on!” Try gently removing the toy the child’s holding and replacing it with the next item.
- Don’t force. If a child isn’t willing to transition to another story box item, don’t worry. They may need more time to explore and learn about what they have in their hand already. Perhaps the item they’re holding is giving them comfort. Remember: The purpose of story box items are to help a child learn and enjoy their learning environment. If they’re enjoying what you’ve already provided for them, that’s a big win!
- Clean up. The items in your story box have been explored thoroughly with hands and often with mouths, too! It’s time to follow your campus’ clean-up protocol to safely sanitize the items for their next use.
And that’s that! Want to know what you’ll learn in the room you serve in each week so you can think about putting together a story box for the children you work with? You can find the upcoming lesson each week on leaders.life.church under each room’s main page. Talk to your LifeKids pastor for help with finding items you can use each week.
Enjoy watching your little Buddy learn, connect with their lesson, and grow in their understanding of how very much Jesus loves them!